Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Harper Government's Attack on Animal Rights is Getting International Attention

Just when we thought that Canada's international reputation couldn't suffer anymore, we have discovered that we have also become the topic of conversation, because of our abuse of animals and our government's attack on animal protection agencies.

Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, published in Clinton, Wash., is writing about the federal government’s denial of free speech to animalwelfare charities in Canada. And he’s in touch with animal rights activists in China. He knows what they think.

"On February 5, 2011," writes Clifton, the Canada Revenue Agency published "draft regulations governing animal charities which would ensure that any animal charity speaking out against anything that is not already illegal would lose nonprofit status."

One specific example: the regulations make it clear that a Canadian animal charity would lose its charitable status if it opposed vivisection, which is the practice of operating on living animals in order to gain knowledge of pathological or physiological processes. A charity could suffer the same fate if it opposed the fur industry or the seal hunt.

The ASPCA already derided Canada for the slaughter of 560 whales trapped in the ice. The order given by fisheries minister Gail Shea, came after the American humane society offered to send in ice breakers to rescue them. She instead sent in the rifles.

A growing body of opinion now holds that we will not achieve our human potential — or even survive — unless we develop a respectful, ethical relationship with the rest of nature. The coyote, the cod and the chestnut have a right to live and flourish, and advocating on their behalf — with or without a benefit to humans — is a deeply moral activity and a legitimate charitable purpose.

And as the American journalist says: "Canada is heading toward becoming an authoritarian state to an extent that surprises observers even in China."